The revival of the Han Dynasty must start with Dong Zhuo

Chapter 543: Ziyu's Confusion
Now the disparity in power between the imperial court and Jiangdong is too great.

Even when the imperial court returned to the Western Regions, it did not lose too much national strength, and even not many generals and soldiers were transferred from the Central Plains.

Moreover, with the change of thinking, the relaxation of policies, and the prosperity of trade, the national strength of the court was booming, leaving Sun Quan no chance to overtake.

In fact, in the past two years, Sun Quan has also been working hard to develop Jiangdong.

Not only did they intensify the encirclement and suppression of the Shanyue tribes, they also introduced the curved plow and reclaimed wasteland on a large scale in Jiangdong.

But it was precisely because of this that Sun Quan had a deeper understanding of the gap between himself and the imperial court.

If it weren't for the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, Sun Quan himself would have almost lost the courage to confront the imperial court.

Now that he heard that the emperor had begun to confer titles on the princes, Sun Quan also began to have some unrealistic thoughts -

What if!
What if the emperor agrees?

It's all enfeoffment anyway, so what's the difference between enfeoffment of a Liang Kingdom and enfeoffment of a Wu Kingdom?
Originally, he wanted to send Li Ru to Chang'an, but Li Ru's current attitude was unclear, so Sun Quan did not dare to send him.

"In that case, let Tzuyu go!"

After receiving the order, Zhuge Jin immediately took a boat to Jingzhou and explained his purpose to Wen Pin.

Wen Pin always treated celebrities with courtesy, so he did not make things difficult for Zhuge Jin. Instead, he sent people to escort him to Chang'an.

When Zhuge Jin arrived in Xiangyang, he saw that the Han River was busy. The boats on the river were like sand in a river, and there was no end in sight. He asked the people around him, "Why is it so busy here? Is the court going to send troops to attack Jiangdong?"

This made the people around him laugh secretly.

"No! These are just goods shipped from the Annan Protectorate south of Shu! They are cargo ships, not warships."

"And if we want to attack Jiangdong, why do we need such a formation? The navy under General Gan is enough!"

Zhuge Jin appeared calm on the surface, but there was a ripple in his heart.

Has the national strength of the Han Dynasty reached such an abundance?

Zhuge Jin then said: "Since ancient times, agriculture has been emphasized and commerce has been suppressed. The imperial court is so eager to make money. Aren't they afraid that the world will become more corrupt and the people will lose their ancient ways?"

Zhuge Jin was, after all, a traditional gentleman, and Jiangdong was relatively closed, so his thinking was still stuck in the old ways.

So people around him also taught him: "Confucius's disciple Duanmu Zigong was also a businessman. Will the social atmosphere be corrupted because of his business?"

"The three princes who divided up Jin didn't engage in business, but didn't their behavior corrupt the social morals?"

“So, the corruption of morals does not lie in whether one is doing business or not, but in those in power, in those who eat meat!”

Zhuge Jin was not convinced by this.

"If all the people go into business, who will farm the land?"

"Food is the most important thing for people. If the land is barren and there is no food, what is the point of making a lot of money through business?"

The people around him laughed and said, "It's easy for Tzuyu to say that, as if anyone in this world who wants to do business can do business."

"Just like this business in Annan Protectorate, although the profits are staggering, the start-up capital required is also a large sum of money."

"If you are not from a wealthy family, how many people can afford such a large sum of money?"

"Although doing business can bring huge profits, it also involves risks. If you are not careful, you can lose everything! How could anyone really sell their land and rashly go into business?"

Zhuge Jin still shook his head: "Businessmen are too selfish, only benefiting themselves and not others. This is not a long-term solution."

The wealth created by farmers is food that can be seen with the naked eye.

But the wealth created by businessmen is too abstract and difficult to explain clearly.

Seeing this, the people around him invited Zhuge Jin to take a look at the farmland around Xiangyang.

“Did Tzuyu see that?”

"Five years ago, or even three years ago, Xiangyang didn't have so many oxen."

"It was the merchants in Hebei who used ironware, cloth and silk from Hebei to exchange for cattle and sheep from the grasslands, and then the merchants in Xiangyang used the rare treasures shipped from the Annan Protectorate to exchange for cattle and sheep from the other side. This is why these oxen that should have been on the grasslands appeared in Xiangyang."

"Once there are more oxen, and with tools like the curved plow and fertilizer, the people will be able to cultivate more land, not less."

"Even if it is the same piece of land, the time people spend working on the farmland will be reduced, so they will have extra time to read, learn to read, and even discuss knowledge, or go to the workshop to work... Isn't this the world harmony advocated by the saints?"

Zhuge Jin looked at the farmland carefully and saw that the number of oxen working the fields was indeed much greater than that of Jiangdong!
But Zhuge Jin still didn't believe it, so he went to a village.

As soon as I entered a house, I found a group of chickens leisurely walking in the yard. Next to it was a cage made of bricks and stones, in which two strong black pigs were kept...

Zhuge Jin suddenly felt a little depressed.

Even if he used the principles in the book to convince himself, he could not deny what he saw.

If it were the people of Jiangdong, how could they raise chickens and pigs at home to get a meal of meat?
The large-scale activities of merchants in Xiangyang obviously made the people around Xiangyang also profit greatly, making them far superior to the people in Jiangdong!
Zhuge Jin continued to walk towards Guanzhong with mixed feelings.

But just after passing Wuguan, the wealth of the Han Dynasty once again taught him a lesson...

A road paved with blue bricks!
Not bad!

Not rammed earth!

But blue bricks!

Simply inhumane!
Zhuge Jin pointed at the blue bricks on the ground and said to the people around him: "The roads in Guanzhong are all covered with blue bricks like this. Isn't this a waste of money and labor?"

"No!"

The other party explained again. "Since the construction of Chang'an New City, the scale of Lou Gui and Zhen Yao's brick factory has expanded several times, and the price of their bricks and stones has become extremely low."

"Later, the two took the initiative to negotiate with local governments and helped build roads in various counties, so now almost all the roads in Guanzhong are paved with blue bricks."

Zhuge Jin was shocked: "Isn't this still a waste of money and labor? Isn't the money used to build the road still the people's blood and sweat?"

"It is indeed the blood and sweat of the people."

The other party did not refute.

"But after the road is built, it will be smooth and will not be damaged even when precious goods are transported. It will also greatly increase the speed of horse-drawn carriages, so local governments can collect more customs duties... The money spent on road construction can be quickly earned back with interest, so why not do it?"

……

Are these things complicated?
Not complicated.

Is it difficult?
It's not difficult.

But Zhuge Jin just felt awkward!

This awkwardness has nothing to do with whether this move benefits the people, but I just feel that it really subverts my own ideas.

The imperial court actually took the initiative to help businessmen create a better business environment?
Is this what the court should do?
Shouldn't the imperial court suppress merchants in every way, increase commercial taxes, and use their ill-gotten gains to subsidize honest farmers?
This remark once again caused people around to laugh.

"Throughout the dynasties, when has the money collected from merchants ever been used to subsidize farmers? What Tzuyu said is really funny!"

The ridiculed Zhuge Jin was no longer able to refute.

Came to Chang'an again...

No, this is not Chang'an. Strictly speaking, this place is still dozens of miles away from Chang'an, but its prosperity is comparable to some cities in Jiangdong.

【Chang'an Agricultural and Industrial University】.

Zhuge Jin finally saw something that made him feel gratified and something he also understood.

It is always right to promote the way of education.

However, the sound of reading aloud that Zhuge Jin imagined did not appear in this university hall.

As soon as he entered and saw an old man, Zhuge Jin quickly bowed to him, thinking that he was a respected scholar.

But the old man quickly waved his hand: "I am just a student at the university, how can I accept such a gift?"

Zhuge Jin was in disarray again.

"Are you a student?"

"Exactly."

This old man is at least "fifty years old".

What does it mean to “know one’s destiny”?
It means that you have reached the age where you should start to review the success or failure of your life and should not continue to struggle.

And now you tell me that you want to start studying?
"Is there something wrong?"

The old man saw the surprise in Zhuge Jin's eyes.

"This agricultural and industrial university does not teach the principles of sages, nor does it teach the art of imperial examinations. It only teaches the knowledge of farming and craftsmanship."

"I am an old man with no talent. Although I do not know the teachings of saints and sages, nor do I know how to discuss and weigh theories, I have been farming for my entire life and have a deep understanding of farming. Naturally, I can come here to improve myself."

"You, a young man, do you think that people like us cannot read and study?"

The university was not originally established for children in need of enlightenment or scholars who aspired to become officials.

Although it has always been advocated that young people study, don’t the elderly have the right to learn?

Zhuge Jin was even more shocked by the other party's last sentence.

Who says that only young people and those entering official careers are eligible for education?

Is it true that an old man, a farmer, is not qualified to enjoy education?

Or is it that old people who work on the land are destined to have a lower status than young people who work in government?
Zhuge Jin has always been called a gentleman because he treats everyone with courtesy, regardless of their wealth or status.

But when he saw the old man today, Zhuge Jin suddenly realized that it was not that he had never discriminated against others, but that his discrimination had been so deeply rooted in his bones that he had not even noticed it!
In contrast, other people in the university hall turned a blind eye to the appearance of the old man, farmers, and craftsmen, and it was obvious that they really didn't care about their existence.

What is education?

Politics is about transformation through form, education is about transformation through effectiveness, and the people are transformed through manners.

Zhuge Jin raised his head and looked towards the University Hall.

Although there is no sound of reading aloud and no teachings of sages here.

But Zhuge Jin felt that this was the real place for education, and a school that could truly "beautify education and change customs."

"The Han Dynasty will surely prosper!"

While sighing, Zhuge Jin also knew——

There is a high probability that my mission this time will be unsuccessful.

Now this young and strong man probably won't compromise on anything.

Even the natural barrier of the Yangtze River may not be able to stop the Han people's unstoppable progress!
(End of this chapter)